Show Passes Kirby on Padre Win List With 53rd Victory

Eric Show, the big show both in hitting and pitching in San Diego’s 10-1 victory over the Braves on Friday night, was thankful for the easy victory in a tough year.

Show, who got his 53rd career victory, became the second-winningest pitcher in club history, surpassing Clay Kirby. He aided his cause with a three-run homer and an RBI single.

“Wins have just been hard for me to come by this year,” said Show, the Padres’ winningest pitcher in 1983 and 1984, but 12-10 this year. “A lot of things haven’t gone real well. But tonight we scored enough runs I knew if I didn’t hold that lead, I’d be in trouble.”

About his hitting, Show said:

“Last year I hit three home runs, batted in 10 runs and hit pretty good, about .250. I think some people took notice of me then, because I started getting breaking balls on first pitches. We pitchers don’t see many curves because we take batting practice only once a week. A little wrinkle in the ball makes it kind of tough.

“But tonight (Braves starter Joe Johnson) just got one up over the plate and I was able to get the meat of the bat on it. For me actually, it’s a little distracting to hit like that. There’s a tendency to think about it when you shouldn’t. But sometimes it can dwell on your mind a little bit.”

Said Manager Dick Williams: “It was his biggest RBI night. He hit some homers last year. Really, he usually takes a pretty good rip at the ball when he’s at the plate.”

The Padres built an 8-0 margin in the first four innings, pinning the defeat on Johnson (4-3) who left after giving up seven hits in 2 innings. He was charged with seven runs.

The Padres took a 1-0 lead in the first on an RBI groundout by Steve Garvey. They made it 5-0 in the second as Carmelo Martinez walked, Kevin McReynolds singled and Show homered with two outs. Garry Templeton kept the rally going with a double and Tony Gwynn sent him home with a single.

In the third, Graig Nettles singled, Martinez was hit by a pitch and with two out, Tim Flannery singled to score Nettles. That knocked out Johnson. Steve Shields relieved and gave up an RBI single to Show, putting the Padres ahead, 7-0.

Nettles hit his 15th homer with two out in the fourth and later contributed a leadoff double to a two-run rally for the Padres in the ninth. Terry Kennedy and McReynolds doubled home the Padres’ last runs.

The only run off Show came on an RBI single by Rick Cerone in the ninth.